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Free The Animal

Ex Navy Officer. Owner of Businesses. Digital Entrepreneur. Expat Living in Thailand. 5,000 Biting Blog Post on Everything since 2003.

You are here: Home / 2009 / Archives for February 2009

Archives for February 2009

My Progress

February 12, 2009 6 Comments

I'm going to give you a brief update on your host's progress. Since my last photo update in September, you'll certainly be happy to know that I'm chugging along.

It was quite some time ago when I was reading some stuff by Clarence Bass (make sure you see his photo at 70-years-old), where he said, "Lose fat slowly." I'm not even certain of his reasoning, but I tend to defer to guys that old (like Art), so credible in appearance. So, I've never worried about it. I typically drop ten pounds or so, hang out for 2-3 months, up & down, with every weight peak just a bit lower than the last, and then it kicks off again.

You see, with paleo / EvFit / Primal, you just never ought to have a worry. You're are applying sound, logical, 4-million-year-tested principles to your very own life. The source of my passion and what drives this blog: it has been well over a year since I even had a shadow of a doubt that this worked: unequivocally. And I'm not just talking weight; I'm talking fat loss, muscle gain, hugely increased energy, better blood markers: the whole enchilada to employ a bad metaphor. It works, and it works for everyone, every time, across the board.

It's how you were designed to eat. But, you're always welcome to eat inferior.

So, since that last update, at around 190, I went from there to 195, to 187 at the lowest, and bounced back-&-forth continuously, all the time getting stronger and stronger in the gym. I'm really impressed with the amount of muscle I've gained in my legs, and am now up to typically doing 3 sets of 10 inclined leg presses each at about 450, followed by a burn off at around 300, 15-20 reps. Where I could not do a single dead hang pull-up a year ago, I can now do 4-5 before I have to start kipping it up to the bar, then I can do lots more.

So, I hit my lowest weight since around 1994 the other day: 183.

I'm headed to Puerto Vallarta on Saturday. Believe it or not, I plan to lose fat during my vacation. Hunger for me, now, is almost non-existent. You saw that photo melange from the camping trip. I lost weight there, too.

I'll see if I can get out some pics of me en vacanceses. With tan in hand.

Filed Under: General

Paleo Trumps — the Science

February 12, 2009 1 Comment

Now, when I say “Paleo,” I mean Paleo-like, i.e., not necessarily low in sat-fat. That said, my good friend in Scotland, Chris Highcock, came up with something this morning.

I’d love to tell you what it is, but you’re just going to have to hit that link above to find out.

Filed Under: General

“Darwin, Evolution and the Paleo Life”

February 12, 2009 Leave a Comment

This is a must read from Keith Norris at Theory to Practice.

Detractors of the Paleo lifestyle are wont to fly the flag of speedy/swift evolution as evidence of the supposed incongruence of the Paleo way vis-à-vis modern man’s interaction within his present-day environment.

I'm not going to give too much away, cause I want you to go read it over there. I'll just add that I blogged on rapid evolution a few weeks back. Finally, the thing about rapid evolution is that we're talking changes over thousands of years vs. tens, hundreds of thousands, and millions.

Filed Under: General

Life Spotlight

February 12, 2009 Leave a Comment

Two really great food & fitness blogs out there were Modern Forager and The IF Life. I say "were," because as of this last Monday, they are, sadly, no more. I'm sure longtime readers have enjoyed many of my posts highlighting and linking to various posts on those two great sites.

They will be missed.

…But not too much; because Scott Kustes and Mike O'Donnell have teamed up on a new project, done one huge crapload of work by all appearances, and have created The Life Spotlight.

Go have a look.

Filed Under: General

You Asked; Mark Sisson Answers

February 11, 2009 10 Comments

MarkBackYardThat gentleman to the left? 55 years old. Somewhere along the line, I recall someone saying that we Primals ought not listen to anyone not willing to stand in front of you and take their shirt off. So, there you have it.

My path to an eventual Primal life way in terms of diet and exercise (and a couple of other categories, when I think about it) began in May of '07. I had a little bit right. I reasoned that in order to recompose my fat body, I needed to build some muscle. What I got right is that I knew to shun the cardio equipment and go for the weights. I also — somehow — made it brief and intense, kinda by accident. I was familiar with "low carb" a-la Atkins and I knew it worked. I watched carbs a bit, but it was totally dis-integrated in terms of Paleo, EvFit, or the Mark Sisson Primal Blueprint.

Since I was already a blogger, I wrote about it. It was one of my first one or two posts that a commenter said that some of what I was saying was reminiscent of Arthur De Vany. And what was eventually to become a complete life revolution began. Of course, it took no time at all before I was introduced to Mark Sisson's great blog, Mark's Daily Apple. To this day, Mark and Art are the go-to guys. They are always at the top of my reading list. There are many others doing great work out there, but these are among the pioneers, no doubt about it.

There's nothing like being the first, and Mark is right up there. As a blogger myself, with well over 2,000 posts going back to 2003, I am continuously gobsmacked at the quality work Mark puts out: daily. I guess he locked that in when he put "Daily" in the name of his blog. For the newcomers, Mark was generous enough to publish a guest post on his blog from me. But now, let's get right to it; with advanced thanks to Mark.

~~~

Keith Norris asks:

I'm curious as to what your take is on Quinoa. Being a gluten-free seed, (and from a leafy green plant)I wonder if it is indeed free of the immune system irritants that plague the grass grains. I've been looking for a bean substitute for my Tex-Mex chili — could these be the ticket?

I tend to consider quinoa a “lesser evil.” It has decent levels of vitamins, amino acids, and protein, and it’s gluten-free, but it’s still rather carb-intensive, with a glycemic index of 53. Quinoa also contains a certain protein that’s been known to cause digestive issues in some. While I don’t eat the stuff myself, if you can without ill effects – more power to you. Coincidentally, we’ve got a killer chili recipe over at MDA, if you’re interested in a competent bean-less option (although I know how people can get about chili recipes, so don’t take that as a challenge!).

We also wrote a short post on quinoa some months back.

Bill asks:

What are your thoughts on a all meat diet? Some say thats the way we should eat; are there any benifit's to that?

Looking back at our ancestral forefathers, some subsisted on mostly meat diets. The inland Inuit (without access to the coast or very agreeable conditions for vegetation) ate mostly caribou, plains natives in North America lived off of mostly bison, and the traditional diet of the Masai is blood, milk and meat. Make no mistake, though – these guys weren’t just eating reindeer steaks and bison kebabs. They ate the entire animal – organs, bones, meat, skin and fat. Using the entire animal gave them access to all the micronutrients, vitamins, and minerals they needed to survive and thrive.

Nowadays, it’s tough to replicate that. You could hunt game. You could probably find a butcher that was willing to hand over the entire animal for a rough approximation of a diet reminiscent of our ancestors, but remember: those animals of yesteryear were wholly natural, organic beasts eating nothing but natural foods (you could even say they followed their own Primal Blueprint), not the grain-fed, bloated, over-stressed meatbags that most people eat today. If you’re set on an all-meat diet, definitely make sure you’re eating EVERYTHING, and only buy organic, grass-fed and finished meat. I can’t endorse it, though. Eating plenty of vegetables, fruits, and nuts (alongside a generous serving of meat, of course) is an easy, healthy, affordable way to get the nutrients and vitamins we need.

I touched on this here.

Richard Nikoley asks:

While there are a lot of success stories here on this blog, and on yours and others, Mark, there are also the comments (and I'm sure the emails to bloggers personally) from those who have seen some success and then stalled in their progress.

So, Mark, over the months and years, have you come to recognize any common themes, and do you have a short list of things "the stalled" ought to look at or do in order to get back on track?

First off, it’s absolutely essential that the Primal Blueprint (or any similar model) be approached as a lifestyle, rather than a diet. “Diet” connotes transience and short-term results; while living in accordance with evolutionary biology certainly has benefits obvious in the short-term (weight loss, lean mass gain, energy), you need to maintain to make them permanent. I’d even argue that any “diet” could be beneficial, even those you or I might not necessarily agree with, just as long as they’re respectfully approached as a viable lifestyle choice rather than a temporary fix.

Second, support helps. Whether we get our support from our friends and family, or from online communities of likeminded individuals all working towards the same goal (like on Free the Animal or MDA), humans are social beings that can sometimes falter. Having peers to look toward for tips or recipes or workout ideas really helps.

If the weight has simply stopped coming off, the easiest thing is to cut the carbs. No matter how clean they may be, limiting carb intake is the absolute key to losing body fat. So instead of an apple a day, make it every other day. And don’t skimp on the fat. Sometimes those old societal phobias creep in and whisper quiet recriminations – “Oh, are you really cooking with lard?” Ignore them. Fat keeps us full and less likely to venture into “just this once” carb territory.

Mark asks:

I'm wondering about the apparent difference in opinion (I think) between Mark and Art DeVany: be sure to eat within the first hour after a hard workout (Mark), or definitely wait until at least an hour has passed (Art)?

I’m definitely of the opinion that a healthy dose of protein within the post-workout hour is good: our bodies are primed for protein synthesis, we’re usually hungry following a good lift, and the prospect of a piece of meat is good impetus to finish hard and strong. That said, I also recognize the value of occasionally fasting after a workout. You see, intense resistance training induces a rise in HGH, as does fasting. The result is a confluence of HGH-raising stimuli that packs even more of a punch. Most workouts still end with a protein-rich snack, but occasionally fasting after a particularly intense session has its benefits too.

As for Intermittent Fasting in general, I try to randomize it as much as possible. Maybe I’ll skip two meals early in the week, then go an entire 24 hours toward the end. Trying to mimic the circumstantial fasts of our ancestors with artificial randomization can be tricky, but it’s the best we’ve got.

  • Is Intermittent Fasting Healthy?
  • The Hype Over Human Growth Hormone
  • Post Workout Fasting

Keith Norris asks:

Dr. Scott Connelly (of MetRx fame) is a big proponent of whey protein and raw dairy in general. This seems to be his "gold standard" vis-a-vis protein bio-availability. I would think that the lactose/insulin issue, not to mention the body's immune/inflammatory reaction to dairy, would render whey/dairy protein substandard. Thoughts?

As a protein powder, I like whey enough to use it in my meal replacement. It’s not intended to form the foundation of a person’s daily nutrition, but it gets you a nice dose of healthy, available protein in a pinch.

Grok Didn't Take Supplements So Why Should I?

Robert Chon asks:

I'd be interested to know Mark and Richard's take on the newest wave of miracle supplements.

I'm speaking of course of those which generally perform the function known as "colon cleansing."

The purveyors make many claims, mostly regarding the removal of toxins from the body and of course, substantial weight-loss claims.

I’m inherently skeptical of quick fixes – especially when specifically marketed as such. It makes me think of some conman hightailing it out of Dodge, suitcase of money in hand. A few of these guys are suggesting that many of us have a ten-foot-long layer of plaque in our colon that’s been there for years! It’s all BS. I say if you’re eating clean, whole foods as ordained by evolutionary biology, you won’t need to cleanse yourself of toxins. These supplements – I’m just guessing here, as I’m not sure which you’re referring to – may help you lose weight in the short term, but I’d imagine it would be via a combination of starvation and frequent trips to the bathroom. Many of these are just high-fiber preparations that might even be dangerous. Why not just stick to eating good fats and proteins and cutting carbs?

Next are three questions around the same issue. First, Meese asks:

I've been puzzling over Lyle McDonald's posts on leptin and had the following 2 questions:

1) On a primal/paleo/evfit type of lifestyle in which one consumes relatively constrained amounts of carbohydrates, could falling or low leptin still become a problem as both carbohydrate metabolism and fat storage would tend to decrease, possibly prompting hormonal responses to guard against starvation? For instance, I notice when I am fasting, I am not particularly hungry or weak (insulin levels good!), but I am extremely and uncomfortably cold.

2) McDonald seems to recommend brief(ish) carb-heavy "refeeds" to bring leptin levels back to baseline after dieting. As fat and protein don't seem to have appreciable effects on leptin, and fat and sugar stores tend to decrease on a primal lifestyle, how can a recovering dieter/non-bodybuilder raise leptin levels? Assuming one already gets adequate sleep, is there a better way than controlled carb binges?

Then… Madmax:

I'd like to know how Mark approaches Intermittent Fasting; ie how often he does it and for how long.

I too second Meese's questions regarding Lyle McDonald's "carb re-feeding" idea. McDonald is an interesting case. He's heavy into the science aspect but he does not recommend a paleo/primal lifestyle. In fact, I get the impression that he thinks its "faddish" and unscientific. Lyle is also no fan of Gary Taubes. I would usually dismiss someone like him but for those that know Lyle, they know that he knows his science. This makes ignoring him out of hand difficult.

And… Richard:

At the risk of just re-hashing Meese and Madmax, here goes: can there be potential value in intermittent/random higher carb days? Nothing ridiculous, but I'm thinking something like ratcheting from, say 100g or less per day, to the occasional 200-300g per day. Aside from the leptin issue noted by Meese above (which I did not know about), I'm wondering whether this could simply be a valuable form of variation/randomizing that "confuses" the body in a productive way.

Lyle (whom I greatly respect) seems to attribute a whole lot more to leptin than I do. I’d say insulin is the more significant driver (by a factor of 10, even). While leptin has it’s function, it, as Lyle says, has a lot to do with regulating appetite – it’s an “anti-starvation” hormone. But if you’re doing a true Primal eating program, appetite doesn’t really ever become an issue.

As you lose body fat, leptin may decrease. If hunger pangs set in, eat a bit more. Once you’re down to 10% body fat (for a guy) or 15% (for a gal) and you feel the need for more carbs in your life, have at it! Just make them healthy sources. At that level, maintaining your body composition shouldn’t be an issue, and eating all the protein and fat you want with 100-150g/day of carbs from veggies and fruits shouldn’t change it.

And finally, if leptin is mostly an “anti-starvation” hormone and you don’t feel like you’re starving, where’s the problem? If you do feel like you’re starving yourself, try to up the fat and protein first, then bump up the carbs to 100-150g/day. Still feeling it? Go for a “refeed” day or two. Even then, get your carbs from healthy sources (think yams, roots, vegetables, fruits) and try not to exceed 300 grams a day.

Chris asks:

1. Mark, how does someone with very fair skin, who easily burns, handle sun exposure? Maybe 15-20 minutes exposure before you break out the Chernobyl strength suncreen?

2. What would you suggest for those of us Primals who go on a cruise? Go for the fruity drinks with all that sugar, or stick to the beer or wine?

(1) 15-20 minutes of good sun exposure a day is a perfect amount (in fact, for the ultra-fair skinned – think Nordic maidens – 3-15 minutes is plenty). You don’t want to burn, but you do need to give your skin enough time to absorb the good stuff. Fifteen minutes seems to be an optimum level to shoot for. Then just find shade, cover up with clothing or apply a good sunblock.

(2) I’d say go for the wine. Although you probably aren’t thinking about nutrients and healthy stuff on a cruise, red wine is loaded with antioxidants and has actually been deemed healthy by CW (I know, I know, not exactly a sterling endorsement, but still…). You can read more about wine here. Of course, I’m a sucker for a good pale ale, and I always stress the importance of actually enjoying life, so do what you want… it’s a vacation!

Richard Nikoley asks:

Have you looked into vitamin K2, specifically, and MK-4 subform, i.e. the one made by animals from K1, not the MK-7 from bacterial fermentation)? Chris Masterjohn has quite a piece on it.

I made brief mention of it way back when MDA was still in its infancy, but that article is pretty compelling – as are your past posts on the subject. I think I’ll have to take a deeper look and maybe do a post on it for MDA. I don’t currently take any supplements for it, but I’d assume we get plenty of it through leafy greens on a Primal diet. Do note that all forms of K are considered off limits for people who take blood thinners (K1 is a clotting factor). I’d be interested to hear your thoughts.

[Editors note: Thanks again to Mark Sisson for his generosity in answering all your questions.]

Filed Under: General Tagged With: vitamin d, Vitamin K2

Don’t Listen To Me! (Part 2)

February 10, 2009 9 Comments

I'm going to break with standard practice and go ahead and quote the whole thing, here, because there's no single part of that can be excerpted and it's just too important. Here's some resources to check out:

  • My original post: Don't Listen To Me!
  • Dr. Dwight Lundell's part 1 article: Heart Surgeon Admits Huge Mistake
  • Dr. Lundell's book websites: The Great Cholesterol Lie; The Cure for Heart Disease
  • Dr. Lundell's interview with Dr. William Davis of the Track Your Plaque program

And now, here's part 2 of Dr. Lundell's heroic article.

Take a moment to visualize rubbing a stiff brush repeatedly over soft skin until it becomes quite red and nearly bleeding. Let’s say you kept this up several times a day, every day for five years. If you could tolerate this painful brushing, you would have a bleeding, swollen infected area that became worse with each repeated injury. This is a good way to visualize the inflammatory process that could be going on in your body right now.

Regardless of where the inflammatory process occurs, externally or internally, it is the same. I have peered inside thousands upon thousands of arteries. A diseased artery looks as if someone took a brush and scrubbed repeatedly against its wall. Several times a day, every day, the foods we eat create small injuries compounding into more injuries, causing the body to respond continuously and appropriately with inflammation.

While we savor the tantalizing taste of a sweet roll, our bodies respond alarmingly as if a foreign invader arrived declaring war. Foods loaded with sugars and simple carbohydrates, or processed with omega-6 oils for long shelf life have been the mainstay of the American diet for six decades. These foods have been slowly poisoning everyone.

How does eating a simple sweet roll create a cascade of inflammation to make you sick?

Imagine spilling syrup on your keyboard and you have a visual of what occurs inside the cell. When we consume simple carbohydrates such as sugar, blood sugar rises rapidly. In response, your pancreas secretes insulin whose primary purpose is to drive sugar into each cell where it is stored for energy. If the cell is full and does not need glucose, it is rejected to avoid extra sugar gumming up the works.

When your full cells reject the extra glucose, blood sugar rises producing more insulin and the glucose converts to stored fat.

What does all this have to do with inflammation? Blood sugar is controlled in a very narrow range. Extra sugar molecules attach to a variety of proteins that in turn injure the blood vessel wall. This repeated injury to the blood vessel wall sets off inflammation. When you spike your blood sugar level several times a day, every day, it is exactly like taking sandpaper to the inside of your delicate blood vessels.

While you may not be able to see it, rest assured it is there. I saw it in over 5,000 surgical patients spanning 25 years who all shared one common denominator — inflammation in their arteries.

Let’s get back to the sweet roll. That innocent looking goody not only contains sugars, it is baked in one of many omega-6 oils such as soybean. Chips and fries are soaked in soybean oil; processed foods are manufactured with omega-6 oils for longer shelf life. While omega-6’s are essential –they are part of every cell membrane controlling what goes in and out of the cell — they must be in the correct balance with omega-3’s.

If the balance shifts by consuming excessive omega-6, the cell membrane produces chemicals called cytokines that directly cause inflammation. Today’s mainstream American diet has produced an extreme imbalance of these two fats. The ratio of imbalance ranges from 15:1 to as high as 30:1 in favor of omega-6. That’s a tremendous amount of cytokines causing inflammation. In today’s food environment, a 3:1 ratio would be optimal and healthy.

To make matters worse, the excess weight you are carrying from eating these foods creates overloaded fat cells that pour out large quantities of pro-inflammatory chemicals that add to the injury caused by having high blood sugar. The process that began with a sweet roll turns into a vicious cycle over time that creates heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes and finally, Alzheimer’s disease, as the inflammatory process continues unabated.

There is no escaping the fact that the more we consume prepared and processed foods, the more we trip the inflammation switch little by little each day. The human body cannot process, nor was it designed to consume, foods packed with sugars and soaked in omega-6 oils.

There is but one answer to quieting inflammation, and that is returning to foods closer to their natural state. To build muscle, eat more protein. Choose carbohydrates that are very complex such as colorful fruits and vegetables. Cut down on or eliminate inflammation-causing omega-6 fats like corn and soybean oil and the processed foods that are made from them. One tablespoon of corn oil contains 7,280 mg of omega-6; soybean contains 6,940 mg. Instead, use olive oil or butter from grass-fed beef.

Animal fats contain less than 20% omega-6 and are much less likely to cause inflammation than the supposedly healthy oils labeled polyunsaturated. Forget the “science” that has been drummed into your head for decades. The science that saturated fat alone causes heart disease is non-existent. The science that saturated fat raises blood cholesterol is also very weak. Since we now know that cholesterol is not the cause of heart disease, the concern about saturated fat is even more absurd today.

The cholesterol theory led to the no-fat, low-fat recommendations that in turn created the very foods now causing an epidemic of inflammation. Mainstream medicine made a terrible mistake when it advised people to avoid saturated fat in favor of foods high in omega-6 fats. We now have an epidemic of arterial inflammation leading to heart disease and other silent killers.

What you can do is choose whole foods your grandmother served and not those your mom turned to as grocery store aisles filled with manufactured foods. By eliminating inflammatory foods and adding essential nutrients from fresh unprocessed food, you will reverse years of damage in your arteries and throughout your body from consuming the typical American diet.

Filed Under: General

Admin Note

February 10, 2009 Leave a Comment

Mark Sisson just emailed over his answers to your questions. Very good and thorough (naturally). I ought to have an intro worked up, along with editing for form, by 8 a.m. tomorrow.

You'll want to make FTA your first stop.

Update: You Asked; Mark Sisson Answers

Filed Under: General

Going Sweetless

February 10, 2009 14 Comments

New research out on Splenda, one of the popular artificial sweeteners. And Dr. Mercola has done a review of the study.

There’s overwhelming evidence that consuming artificial sweeteners will likely wreak havoc on your body. Previous news has centered mainly around artificial sweeteners’ ability to impair your appetite regulation and leading to weight gain.

For example, it’s been discovered that diet soda increases your risk of metabolic syndrome and, ultimately, heart disease.

However, the study mentioned above, published in the Journal of Toxicology and Environmental Health, found even further disturbing news besides weight gain. Splenda:

  • reduces the amount of good bacteria in your intestines by 50 percent
  • increases the pH level in your intestines, and
  • affects a glycoprotein in your body that can have crucial health effects, particularly if you’re on certain medications

They also found unmistakable evidence that Splenda is absorbed by fat, contrary to previous claims.

I've been mostly "sweetless" for quite a while, now, and don't miss it a bit. The reason for not using them had nothing to do with the foregoing new information, however, but because they will tend to stall your fat loss or even cause you to put on fat even in the midst of an ultra-low-carb diet. As Mercola explains:

The belief that consuming artificially sweetened foods and drinks will help you to lose or maintain weight is a carefully orchestrated deception. So if you are still opting for diet choices for this reason, please understand that you have been sorely misled.

In reality, these diet foods and drinks can cause serious distortions in your biochemistry and ruin your body's ability to control calories. As a matter of fact, it’s been shown that diet soft drinks can double your risk of obesity!

Nearly a decade ago, studies were already revealing that artificial sweeteners can:

  • Stimulate your appetite
  • Increase carbohydrate cravings
  • Stimulate fat storage and weight gain

Unfortunately, most public health agencies and nutritionists in the United States still recommend these toxic artificial sweeteners as an acceptable alternative to sugar.

That was enough for me to avoid them as much as possible (I've maybe had 2-3 diet sodas in the last year), but with this new information I think I'll just stick to my unsweetened coffee, unsweetened tea (hot & cold), and my most favorite of all: San Pelegrino.

Filed Under: General

A Tale of Two Mayo Clinic Dietician Morons

February 9, 2009 17 Comments

You've really got to love the Internet.

Another thing I love is watching establishment, authoritarian "experts" — who fake a livelihood and self-esteem regurgitating the party line — get it right in the teeth.

That's what happened to these two dumbshits, Jennifer Nelson, M.S., R.D. and Katherine Zeratsky, R.D. in this post ("For those with diabetes — there's more to it than carbs"). I'm not even going to quote any of it because it's just so dumb. 1+1=3 dumb; that's how dumb.

But luckily, as of right now, 31 out of 33 commenters — most of whom are T2 diabetics or successfully treat T2 diabetics — have given the two morons a rash of real nice kicks in the teeth. Here was one of my favorite comments, by Debbie (of the two comments that were not kicks in the teeth, one was a question and another was a comment by the author of the post):

This is the sort of article which helps reinforce the truth of the comment my son frequently makes: "If you want to understand human nutrition *never* ask a dietician or a nutritionist, ask a biochemist". I'm a T2 diabetic and thank God I'm pretty internet-savvy. Thus I know full well that a diet that is 45% carbs is a true "killer" diet for diabetics. Any diabetic who researches the issue knows that a real low carb diet is the best hope for longevity. I try to keep carbs at about 5% of my total caloric intake, sometimes up to 10% but *never* higher than that! Higher would send my blood sugars spiraling out of control. But my numbers are all good. I eat plenty of saturated fats too, since I feel quite sure it is not a demon. Not that I eat fat indiscriminately. I avoid trans fats, and polyunsaturated vegetable fats. But I eat my share of dairy fat, animal fat, coconut oil, and monos like olive oil. My typical diet is 70% fat, 5% carb, 25% protein. It's easy to maintain, makes me feel incredible. So far I've lost 70 pounds, and all my numbers are much better. But I pity the poor diabetic who does not have access to the internet. They are the ones likely to lose their limbs, their eyesight, etc. I used to respect the Mayo Clinic as a dispenser of medical information, but after reading this I realize I can't trust a word written here either!

It gets better. A few days later (Feb 3), they published a follow-up moronic post that essentially said the same stupid things. So far, about 12 of 14 comments are good teeth kicks, while a couple of diabetics are recommending going on a pea brain-diet (vegetarian). I particularly liked this comment by Mary Kolk, who literally saved her husband's life from the dietitians and medical doctors doing their level best to kill him — and those dietitians and medical doctors very nearly succeeded in killing him, by Mary's account.

You have got to be kidding me! You need to read Dr. Richard Bernstein's book, "Diabetes Solutions Third Edition" It is amazing how the medical community refuses to acknowledge tremendus benefits of eating a low carbohydrate diet. My husband is a type 2 diabetic for over 25 years. He had severe neuropathy in both feet and could not walk over 75 to 100 feet at any one time. He was eventually put on insulin after the doctor felt there was nothing more he could do for him. Beginning at 5 units a night, a year later he was on 43 units a night. His weight ballooned to 280 pounds. He was depressed and I told my kids that in 6 months I would be pushing dad around in a wheelchair. About 7 years ago I read Dr. Bernstein's book. I read that book and realized it was all about my husband. Six years ago, my husband accepted responsibility for the diabetes, went on a program of low carb and exercise this was the result: he lost 80 pounds in 9 months, his HA1c fell to 6.5 from 11, he goes to the gym 3 times a week and walks 2 miles each time. He came off of insulin about 3 months after beginning this program and his doctor takes him OFF of meds each time he sees him. He has not had insulin in 6 years! He feels wonderful, he looks wonderful and he is wonderful. He was literally dying in front of my eyes – seeing his doctor faithfully and following what his doctors told him to do. And he was dying slowly. He is now fully alive and well. His HDL is great.

(HT: Doc Eades)

Filed Under: General

The Camping Trip and Food

February 8, 2009 6 Comments

Just mostly food pics, all cooked by friends and family, especially my mom and two brothers. I actually brought food and ended up cooking nothing this time around. You'll soon see why I didn't bother.

…

Read More

Filed Under: General

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About FreeTheAnimal

I'm Richard Nikoley. Free The Animal began in 2003 and as of 2020, has 5,000 posts and 120,000 comments from readers. I blog what I wish...from lifestyle to philosophy, politics, social antagonism, adventure travel, nomad living, location and time independent—"while you sleep"— income, and food. I intended to travel the world "homeless" but the Covid-19 panic-demic squashed that. I've become an American expat living in rural Thailand where I've built a home. I celebrate the audacity and hubris to live by your own exclusive authority and take your own chances. [Read more...]

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My own on-the-scene expat photos, stories, podcasts, and video adventures, currently from exotic Thailand

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Gastrointestinal Health

Elixa Probiotic is a British biotech manufacturer in Oxford, UK. U.S. Demand is now so high they've established distribution centers in Illinois, Nevada, and New Jersey.

Still, sell-outs happen regularly, so order now to avoid a waiting list.

Elixa Probiotic

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Recent Posts

Stop Imagining; Do Something Big Instead

On November 6, I shut off Fox Narrative, got in the car, and drove 8 hours to the province. I haven't watched a second of that shit stain ...

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Follow Me on Parler

If you want. If anyone is wondering where my Twitter presence went, they summarily bombed my account after 13 years and 7,000 followers; and as ...

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I Want You To Think Diet and Lifestyle

I said I am getting back into diet advocacy. This is true. What I have come to realize—in both the intervening years since I was a Paleo Diet ...

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Is it Time to Turn Back My Attention to Weight Loss?

So is the whole world, not just America. No matter where in the world you look—no matter which gender, which race, which culture, which ...

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Making It Easy In A World Gone Crazy

A picture is worth a thousand words, they say. Sure, 11 year old Chili to the right and 10 year old Wasabi to the left—who have grown up in the Si Sa ...

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